Angiocaulus gubernaculatus in the island fox (Urocyon littoralis) from theCalifornia channel islands and comments on the diagnosis of angiostrongylidae nematodes in canid and mustelid hosts

Adult nematode parasites were recovered from the heart blood of a deceased island fox (Urocyon littoralis) submitted for necropsy to determine the cau se of death. Examination of the recovered nematodes supported the generic d iagnosis of Angiocaulus, a parasite in Angiostrongylidae found in domestic and wild canids and mustelids. Specific diagnosis of the worms from the isl and fox as Angiocaulus gubernaculatus is based on the morphology of the dor sal ray in the copulatory bursa of the male worm and its comparison with pu blished descriptions of Angiocaulus raillieti and A. gubernaculatus. Althou gh A. gubernaculatus has been typically associated with mustelid hosts, its occurrence in the island fox indicates that the host distribution for the parasite may not be as restricted as previously believed.